Kenston Board of Education – December 12, 2022
Meeting Details: The meeting was held at Kenston High School in the Auburn Bainbridge Room at 7 pm. It was livestreamed and a recording of the meeting is available here https://kenstonlocal.org/about-kenston/board-of-education/boe-live/
Board Attendance: Neysa Gaskins, Jennifer Troutman, Beth Krause, Dennis Bergansky.
Absent: Tom Manning
Staff Attendance: Asst. Superintendent Kathleen Poe and Treasurer Paul Pestello
Absent: Superintendent Steven Sayers (remotely)
Minutes: Minutes were approved from the Special meetings on November 7th, 16th, 21st, 2022 and December 5th, 2022. November was considered a special meeting because it was the regular board meeting moved to a special meeting date.
Board commendation: The Kenston Treasury Department received a GFOA certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021
Board Reports and Informational Items:
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John Molnar, director of technology, presented a summary of some of the tech department's accomplishments. Students from 1st to 12th grade have chrome books and these are replaced every 4 years. Student summer interns participated in projects that involved reusing/recycling old Chromebook parts to repair newer Chromebooks and federal grants have been used to update the school’s network.
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Jennifer Moore, Kenston Community Education Director, updated the board on the successes of the program. The program achieved one million in gross revenue this year. This group provides events/classes for students in preschool through 12th grade varying from science classes to pickleball events.
Board Committee Reports
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Several board members reported on the OSBA (Ohio School Board Association) conference and the different learning seminars that they attended, the student exhibits they saw, and the networking they accomplished while there.
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Beth Krause: The Kenston Citizens Advisory Committee had an informal introductory meeting. Formal meeting will occur on Friday, December 16th when they meet with Paul Pestello.
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Jennifer Troutman: The Policy Committee met. At least 50 policies are on the meeting agenda for first reading to check for relevancy, currency, etc. These were drafted in conjunction with NEOLA (North East Ohio Learning Associates) a service that guides the construction of board and administrative policy for school districts.
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Neysa Gaskins spoke about Kenston Inc. which met on November 10, 2022 for the first time in years. Question and answer session with community business members regarding what they thought Kenston was doing well and where they could do more. Responses strongly centered on making the community and students more aware of the Auburn Career Center and the programs that they have to offer.
Hearing of the Public on Agenda Items
Julie Frickle (sp) a Kenston Alumna, and the mother of a former Kenston student with dyslexia spoke to the percentages of children with dyslexia nationwide and the corresponding number of students at Kenston Schools who struggle to learn to read due to dyslexia. She spoke of how their son struggled at Kenston and how he did not receive the type of reading instruction that he needed. They removed their child from Kenston and placed him in a private school where he is now successfully learning to read. She praised Kenston for more recently sending their teachers for further professional development in the teaching of students with dyslexia and reminded the school district that more must be done to address this need.
A series of Financial Items as well as contracts for certified, classified, supplemental, special education, substitute, transportation, and snow removal personnel were approved in rapid succession.
New Business
Hearing of the Public on Non-Agenda Items—None
Treasurer’s Report – Mr. Paul Pestello
Kenston filed its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report on time in November.
Also, independent auditors are busy completing their report in time for Kenston to receive the award mentioned in the commendations above.
Mr. Pestello clarified information regarding the Permanent Improvement Levy cited above: Although the term general is in this levy as per statute, this levy is not related to the general fund. This is not an operating levy. This is a permanent improvement levy for those items that fall into this category. This is a continuing levy and goes on indefinitely.
Superintendent’s Report
The Superintendent thanked the board (remotely) for their support and looks forward to continuing to work with the Kenston team.
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Kenston Holiday Concerts began last week and have been live streamed.
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All students and staff have participated in all safety and lock-down drills as part of the school’s safety and security plans.
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Staff have participated in professional development focused on increasing student engagement in the classrooms.
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Kenston stadium, track, and courts are closed for the season and will reopen in the spring of 2023. The 1.5-mile Kenston Trail remains open for the year.
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Kenston will be hosting the KMS Speech and Debate Tournament, now known as the first memorial Fred Snook tournament, this Saturday, November 17th, 2023.
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The 57th annual AIT tournament will be held here over winter break. Kenston is hosting 25 teams over two days on December 28th and 29th. This is a fundraiser for Athletic Boosters.
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Planning for the 2023-2024 school year is underway.
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Superintendent extends his wishes on behalf of the Kenston Schools for a happy holiday
Next meeting: January 9, 2023 at Kenston High School in the Auburn Bainbridge Room. The organizational meeting begins at 6:30 pm.
More information here: https://kenstonlocal.org/about-kenston/board-of-education/
Name of Observer: Jacqueline Berger
Name of Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Shelly Lewis
Date Submitted 12/16/22
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